OT Lesson 33 The Ministry of Elisha, Jonah and Amos

Title: OT Lesson 33 The Ministry of Elisha, Jonah and Amos Text: 2 Kings chapters 8 – 13; Books of Jonah and Amos Supplemental Text: The Fourth Thousand Years chapters 16-17 BYU Lecture 38:  As we open the 8th chapter of 2 Kings, the author reverts back to a previous time period. Gehazi (the servant of Elisha when Naaman was cleansed of leprosy) was telling King Ben-Hadad II, king of Syria, the many miracles performed by the prophet Elisha. At the time, King Ben-Hadad II was suffering from a disease and sent his servant Hazael to ask Elisha if he will recover. Elisha says the king will not die from the disease but he will die nonetheless, knowing that Hazael will murder the king and take his place as the new king of Syria. Elisha faithfully serves God through six different kings of Israel. He endured 65 years of horrific wickedness, conspiracies, wars, murders, military coups and all manner of evil. Next is the study of the prophet Jonah and his calling to Ninevah. He flees his assignment and is intercepted by a whale. He finishes his mission call, and the Assyrians actually repent, albeit temporarily. Amos comes on the scene prophesying and preaching repentance to all Israel. He prophecies that Israel will be conquered and taken into slavery beyond Damascus. His prophecy was literally fulfilled 3 decades later when Assyria smashed Israel in 721 BC driving the 10 tribes into obscurity and lost.